My frugal Father’s Day gift in 2011

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My father means the world to me and on Father’s Day this Sunday I am giving him a gift above all — my undivided attention and time. Although there are many Father’s Day gift ideas, no tie or gadget could state how grateful I am to have him in my life.

Not only is he my biggest supporter, but he’s given me money lessons and taught me to live within my means. When I got my first job at a local juice bar, my father would pick me up from work. One day I was so tired and offered to pay for coffee if he stopped at the nearest coffee shop. He obliged. When I got back in the car with coffee in hand he asked: “So, how many hours did you just work to pay for this coffee?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I didn’t know there was a lesson in all of this, but I began doing the math.

“About an hour and a half,” I responded.

“Is coffee worth an hour and a half?”

It wasn’t. Even now when I’m trying to make decisions about money my father will go through this process with me. “How many stories do you have to write to pay for…?”

Although we are close, our schedules get in the way of spending more time together. When we do see each other, we spend the time running errands. And as my sister enters high school in the fall and I continue to build a career, our time together as a family is more precious than ever.

I wouldn’t mind spending money on material things for my dad, no matter how many stories I would have to write to pay for them because he’s worth it. But I know that what he truly wants is to enjoy quality time with us.

Comments

My parents are no longer alive, but I have fond memories of both Mother’s and Father’s Days, when I would shop for and prepare a special meal for them. Best of all (for them) I even cleaned up afterwards! Both said it was the kind of memorable gift that couldn’t be rivaled by anything “store bought.”